Farm tractor lift arm lock

Abstract

The farm tractor lift arm lock is an anti-sway brace for a tractor that keeps the lift arms of a traditional three-point hitch from spreading excessively and keeps the angle between the arms constant. Two brackets attach to each of the lift arms and a rigid anti-sway bar extends laterally between the brackets, keeping the brackets, and thus the lift arms, from moving laterally relative each other. The farm tractor lift arm lock is made of metal and can either have the brackets welded to the ends of the anti-sway bar or can be of one-piece construction.

1 . A farm tractor lift arm lock, comprising: 
 a pair of brackets adapted for attachment to opposing lift arms of a tractor supporting a three-point hitch; and    an elongate, rigid anti-sway bar extending between said brackets;    whereby upon attachment of said brackets to respective lift arms the lift arms are prevented from swaying laterally and angularly relative to each other.    
   
   
       2 . The farm tractor lift arm lock according to  claim 1 , wherein said anti-sway bar has a centrally located upward arch formed therein.  
   
   
       3 . The farm tractor lift arm lock according to  claim 1 , wherein said anti-sway bar is adjustable, formed by an elongate adjustment bar and an elongate hinge bracket bar of about equal length, said adjustment bar having an outer end and an inner end portion defining a hinge bolt bore and an adjustment bolt bore spaced inward therealong, said hinge bracket bar having an outer end and an inner end portion forming an inner hinge bracket defining an inner vertical bolt hinge bore and a spaced arcuate slot therein, said adjustable anti-sway bar having a hinge bolt extending through said hinge bores and having a tightening nut and an adjustment bolt extending through said arcuate slot and adjustment bore and having a tightening nut, whereby said anti-sway bar is formed from said adjustment bar and said hinge bracket bar in a straight line or at a desired angle by rotating said bars relative to each other around said hinge bolt and tightening said hinge bolt nut and said adjustment bolt is tightened over said arcuate slot and said adjustment bore by said adjustment bore nut.  
   
   
       4 . The farm tractor lift arm lock according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said lift-arms has a slot forming structure attached thereto and each said brackets is a single, downward directed metal plate adapted for insertion into a slot defined in the lift arm.  
   
   
       5 . The farm tractor lift arm lock according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said brackets includes an inner plate attached to a respective end of said anti-sway bar and a corresponding outer plate, said corresponding inner plates and outer plates defining a plurality of aligned bolt bores around their peripheries, and a plurality of bracket bolts and nuts extending through respective said aligned bolt bores whereby, upon placing respective lift arms between respective said inner plates and outer plates and tightening said nuts on said bolts against said plates, said lift arm lock engages said lift arms.  
   
   
       6 . A farm tractor lift arm lock, comprising: 
 a pair of brackets adapted for attachment to opposing lift arms of a tractor supporting a three-point hitch; and    an elongate, rigid anti-sway bar extending between said brackets;    whereby upon attachment of said brackets to respective lift arms the lift arms are prevented from swaying laterally and angularly relative to each other.    
   
   
       7 . The farm tractor lift arm lock according to  claim 6 , wherein said anti-sway bar is adjustable, formed by an elongate adjustment bar and an elongate hinge bracket bar of about equal length, said adjustment bar having an outer end and an inner end portion defining a hinge bolt bore and an adjustment bolt bore spaced inward therealong, said hinge bracket bar having an outer end and an inner end portion forming an inner hinge bracket defining an inner vertical bolt hinge bore and a spaced arcuate slot therein, said adjustable anti-sway bar having a hinge bolt extending through said hinge bores and having a tightening nut and an adjustment bolt extending through said arcuate slot and adjustment bore and having a tightening nut, whereby said anti-sway bar is formed from said adjustment bar and said hinge bracket bar in a straight line or at a desired angle by rotating said bars relative to each other around said hinge bolt and tightening said hinge bolt nut and said adjustment bolt is tightened over said arcuate slot and said adjustment bore by said adjustment bore nut.  
   
   
       8 . A farm tractor lift arm lock, comprising: 
 a pair of brackets adapted for attachment to opposing lift arms of a tractor supporting a three-point hitch; and    an elongate, rigid anti-sway bar extending between said brackets;    whereby upon attachment of said brackets to respective lift arms the lift arms are prevented from swaying laterally and angularly relative to each other.    
   
   
       9 . The farm tractor lift arm lock according to  claim 8 , wherein each of said lift arms has a slot forming structure attached thereto and each said brackets is a single, downward directed metal plate adapted for insertion into a slot defined in the lift arm.  
   
   
       10 . The farm tractor lift arm lock according to  claim 9 , wherein each of said brackets includes said inner plate attached to a respective end of said anti-sway bar and a corresponding outer plate, said corresponding inner plates and outer plates defining a plurality of aligned bolt bores around their peripheries, and a plurality of bracket bolts and nuts extending through respective said aligned bolt bores whereby, upon placing respective lift arms between respective said inner plates and outer plates and tightening said nuts on said bolts against said plates, said lift arm lock engages said lift arms.